Metallic fence



(No Model.)

' E. M. WALKER.

METALLI() FENCE. u No. 341,969. Patented May 18, 18861.

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UNITED STATES PaTnnT Ormea,

HERRMAN MARKS VALKER, OF KENTON, OHIO.

METALLIC FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,969, dated May 18, 1886.

Application filed September 25, 1884. Serial No. 143,974.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERRMAN MARKS WALKER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Kenton, in the county of Hardin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description'of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or iigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in metallic fences; and it consists more especiallyinthe configuration of a clamp, which is adapted to embrace the rail and retain in position au ornamental casting having circular sides,'which retains in position the pickets.

Hy invention also consists in the construction and combination of the paris, as will be hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,\vhich illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a front View showing the pickets, clamps, and circular plates attached to a rail, a portion of said rail being inclined, while the remainder is horizontal. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the clamp in front of the picket-plate; Fig. 3, a detail perspective view of the clamp; and Fig. 4 is a back view of the picket-plate.

A represents a rail, which is preferably made of T-iron, which serves to support the pickets F, two or more rails being employed in the construction of a fence.

B represents a plate, the sides of which are circular, as shown, and the same is provided at its upper and lower portions'with outwardly-curved portions b, so as to allow a picket to be passed under these curved portions, said picket abutting against the same and the front portion of the rail. The upper and lower portions ofthe plate B may be suitably ornamented, the circular portions b of the plate forming a part of said ornamentation, and serving the purpose of allowing the plates to be turned with the pickets under the clamp, so that the pickets can be adjusted to a vertical position,whether the rail is horizontal or inclined.

C represents an ornamental clamp which is provided at its ends with lugs, which project rearwardly therefrom, the upper lugs, C', being bent downwardly at their ends, so as to form hooks, which will embrace the rear portion of the rail, while the lower lugs are bent rearwardly and extend straight out from the body portion of the clamp, so as to lie parallel with the rail when attached thereto. Beyond these lugs the casting projects, as shown at c', so as to overlap the curved portions b of the picket-retaining plates,which are placed under the projecting portions c after the clamp is placed upon the rail. The clamp is provided on its rear face with stops d, which bear upon the face of the rail. Y

Toconstruct a fence with my improvement the clamps C are first placed upon the rail, and hang thereon by the upper lugs, which are in the form of hooks, the lower horizontal lugs being on a line with the lower portion of.

the rail. The plates through which pass the .pickets are then inserted under the ends of the clamps, and are retained in posit-ion thereby. The plates serve to lock the clamps upon the rail, as they prevent the outward movement of the lower portion of the clamp, vcrtical movement being prevented by the lugs c, which lie on a line with the lower portion of the rail.

By the means hereinbefore described it will be readily seen that I provide a clamp which 'may be attached to the rail at any desired position, and that it is not necessary to slip the same upon the rail from its end.

It will be obvious that the rails A may be readily retained in position by causing one of the pickets to enter the ground, or by independent rail-supporting posts.

The pickets are heldin place upon the rails by frictional contact of the parts upon each other, and7 if desirable, the pickets may be enlarged near their upper ends, as is usual, so that said enlarged portion will rest upon the upper part of the plate B, and the rails A are secured to posts, which are planted in the ground at suitable intervals.

I claim l. As a new article of manufacture,a clamp TOO ing-plate for fences, designed to operate in the manner specified, consisting of a casting having the body portion C, having upper rearwardly and downwardly extending lngs,C, in engagement with the upper edge of the supporting-rail, and lower lugs, C, the latter extending rearwardly, and thence on a line with each other to pass beneath said rail, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a picket fence, of a supporting-rail, plate B, having sockets b for the picket and end portions, and clan1pplate A,provided with upper rearwardly and downwardly curved lugs, C, and lower lugs, C, the

latter extending rearwardly, and thence on al -reception of the ends of the picket-plate B,

substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERRMAN MARKS WALKER. Vitnesses:

CHARLES FULLERTON, M L. WALKER. 

